Works (Vol 4) - Newton - XLVII - Sermon XLVII (The intercession of Christ)

Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) of John Newton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon XLVII (The intercession of Christ).

My summary
This week Newton preaches on: 'Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.' (Rom 8:34)

Firstly Newton teaches us that Jesus pleads as a priest, which means he is able to save us:
(i) when our minds are burdened with guilt;
(ii) when we are deeply conscious of our defects in duty;
(iii) when our prayers are poor and narrow.

Secondly Newton explains that Jesus is a king which means that he:
(i) is the source and fountain of our supply;
(ii) appoints and adjusts our various dispensations;
(iii) is the captain of our salvation.

What grabbed me
I liked Newton comparison of our prayers to Christ's prayers: 'This powerful and prevalent intercession abundantly compensates for the poverty and narrowness of our prayers. Experience confirms what the Scripture declares of our insufficiency to order our own cause before the Lord, to specify our various wants, and to fill our mouths with such arguments as may engage the attention, and enliven the affections of our hearts: 'We know not how to pray as we ought.' And though the Holy Spirit teaches believers to form petitions, which, in the main, are agreeable to the will of God, yet we often mistake and ask amiss; we often forget what we ought to ask, and we are too often cold, negligent, weary, distracted, and formal in prayer. How prone are we to enter by prayer into the Lord's presence, as the thoughtless 'horse rushes into the battle !' to speak to God as if we were only speaking into the air, and to have our thoughts dissipated and wandering to the ends of the earth, while his holy name is upon our polluted lips! It is well for us that God is both able and gracious to do more than we can ask or think ; but that he actually does so, for such unworthy creatures, is owing to our Intercessor. He knows all our wants, and pleads and provides accordingly. He is not negligent, though we too frequently are. He prayed for Peter's safety, before Peter himself was aware of his danger. Have we not sometimes been, as it were, surprised and shamed by the Lord's goodness, when he has condescended to bestow special and needful mercies upon us, before we thought of asking for them ! These are affecting proofs of our Intercessor's attention and care, and that he is always mindful of us.'

Oh what a privilege it is to have the Son pray for us.

Next week's reading
Read Sermon XLVIII (The song of the redeemed).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.